Foresight

Four segments.
One goal:

High-yielding seeds

KWS continued to develop successfully in fiscal 2023/24, despite the once again demanding environment, generating double-digit growth in net sales and earnings. Above all, the sugarbeet and cereals segments scored with innovative varieties.

Sugarbeet

Market leader thanks to innovations: In the reporting year, KWS reinforced its leading global position for sugarbeet seed.

  • ■ Conditions for sugarbeet cultivation were good in the reporting year. As a result, farmers cultivated more sugarbeet: Global arable land expanded slightly by 2 percent.
  • The product innovations CONVISO® SMART and CR+ have been the driving force behind growth in the sugarbeet sector for several years. They already account for more than half of the segment’s sales and show how we contribute to greater yield security and sustainability through breeding and offer farmers added value.
  • Thanks to the innovative portfolio, the segment can look back on another record year: Net sales increased in all key regions and rose significantly by 21 percent to € 865 million. Earnings also increased significantly to € 350 million.
  • The most important investment project is the new building for processing and storing breeding material in Einbeck, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024.

Net sales 2023/24
in €M

EBIT 2023/24
in €M

Corn

The sale of our corn business in China and South America played a major role in the financial year. KWS is thus taking an important step as part of its strategic orientation.

  • Less corn was cultivated worldwide in the reporting year. By contrast, the European market for silage corn, in which KWS is the market leader, was stable.
  • Net sales for the corn business remaining with KWS fell by 5 percent and were primarily impacted by currency effects. In contrast, earnings rose to € 39 (19) million. This clear improvement arose from the sale of the Chinese corn business. Our North American joint venture AgReliant once again fell short of expectations in a highly competitive environment.
  • We spent almost € 40 million on expanding and modernizing our production facilities in Turkey, France, Romania and Ukraine.

Net sales 2023/24
in €M

EBIT 2023/24
in €M

Cereals

Our oilseed rape and rye varieties are in demand: Thanks to our high-performance portfolio, net sales and earnings grew dynamically.

  • ■ Our rye seed continues to be one of the growth drivers in the cereals segment. With its resource-efficient properties and a very good CO2 balance, rye offers an attractive option for more sustainability in arable farming.
  • The importance of the oilseed rape crop in our cereals portfolio has grown significantly in recent years, and now accounts for around a third of sales. KWS has recently placed innovative varieties on the market that, for example, have new resistances to the rapeseed flea beetle. The special crops and organic seed segment also developed positively.
  • In the cereals sector, our focus in research and breeding is on the forward-looking development of hybrid seed, including wheat and barley.

Net sales 2023/24
in €M

EBIT 2023/24
 in €M

Vegetables

A new market in our sights: Five years after taking the first step in the Vegetables sector, we have reached further milestones and are represented in key regions with more than 300 employees.

  • In Uberlândia, Brazil, a research and breeding station was inaugurated as a hub for the South American vegetable market. Another station has gone into operation in Sinaloa, Mexico. A new R&D center is being built in Andijk in the Netherlands to expand our activities there, particularly in spinach and beans.
  • KWS was able to maintain its leading market position in spinach seed. However, turnover fell by 12 percent – mainly due to a drop in demand in China. However, sales of bean seed rose by 11 percent.
  • The development of our vegetable breeding program requires time, expertise and financial resources: The result was therefore negative, as expected, and fell due to higher expenses and depreciation.

Net sales 2023/24
in €M

EBIT 2023/24
in €M